As people looked for such words as "aggression", "apology", "remorse" and "colonial rule" in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Aug 14 statement, Michio Hamaji was more concerned about how it ended.

The Japanese businessman-turned activist said the "proactive contribution to peace" Abe spoke of when concluding his speech is worrying as it shows where the prime minister intends to move his country to in the future.

It is a phrase Abe has been seeking to sell abroad since he took office for the second time in 2012.